6. Michael C. Hall
Project: Dexter
Proposed Salary: $24 million for two more seasons*
Outcome: Agreed
Dexter’s seventh season was marred by a wage disagreement that lasted many months. Still, Hall was eventually awarded the compensation he desired. Showtime had a solid incentive to attempt to keep the primary actor happy, as Dexter’s sixth season debut was the highest-rated season opener in the network’s history.
According to the network, it was also the best original series premiere on Showtime in more than a decade. When it came to Hall’s wage, the network and the actor were at a standstill. Still, eventually, the dam cracked, and the serial killer drama was renewed for a seventh season. Showtime offered Hall $20 million for two further seasons, but Hall countered a demand for $24 million, which he received instead.
6. Michael C. Hall
7. Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Project: Seinfeld
Proposed Salary: $1 million per episode*
Outcome: Agreed (but still no royalties)
A total of $3.1 billion was earned by the whole cast and crew of Seinfeld, which was one of the most popular sitcoms on television at the time. Although the “show about nothing” is a cultural institution, the compensation talks that took place behind the scenes were less than ideal.
In response to reports that the Seinfeld cast had been denied royalties, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, and George Costanza all sought $1 million per episode pay for the show’s final season, which was ultimately granted by the network. As for the final year, they got what they wanted, and Alexander defended himself and his co-stars’ decision by claiming that it was exactly what they “should have gotten” all along.
7. Julia Louis Dreyfus
